A pet is a member of the family, wouldn’t you want them to be as happy and healthy as possible? A yearly veterinary health screening can make sure that your pet will stay healthy, or detect a condition early on. How your pet acts and how they really feel can go unnoticed. It is animal instinct to compensate and hide detectable signs or symptoms from their owners.
Taking your pet to annual health screenings will give your vet a baseline to determine what is normal and abnormal for your pet’s test work. Just like people, as your pet ages the importance of health screenings increases. It is vet recommended to take your pet for a health screening semi-annually as your pet gets older. Former tests that have been done for your pet throughout the years are prerequisites for determining the state of their current and ongoing health.
What Vets Look for During a Well-Visit
There are many conditions or diseases that may not be recognizable to the untrained eye or without proper health screening, such as blood work. Catching a disease in the beginning stages will allow for early intervention and improve chances for successful treatment for your animal. Here are a few conditions or diseases that your vet will test for during their health screening:
• Heartworm: A parasitical disease of worms surrounding your pet’s heart and blood vessels.
• Lyme Disease: A bacterial disease which affects the skin, joints, and nervous system.
• Ehrlichia: A bacterial disease which affects the kidneys and the respiratory system.
• Compete Blood Count (CBC): Tells the veterinarian the pet’s abilities to fight infection, produce red blood cells and platelets for blood clotting, and if an infection is present.
CBC’s may also use the baseline from previous health screenings to determine any deviations from normal results which also show metabolic diseases and how long they’ve been present in the body.
A health screening can help you understand what your pet needs. A physical examination and observing the pet’s weight will determine if you will need to change your pet’s diet or improve daily exercise. Lifestyle changes will help to decrease your pet’s chances of becoming obese or developing a respiratory condition. Well-visits can help your pet live a longer, healthier, and happier life. Contact your us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your pet and their health needs.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Importance of Pet Grooming
Grooming your pet will help keep them looking their best, but did you know that there are many health-related benefits to regulatory grooming? The recommended time between grooming by professional groomers and vets, is four to six weeks for a long coated animal, and six to eight weeks for a short coated animal. Professionally trained groomers and vets have the skill set to appropriately clean and observe for signs of certain diseases. Some experienced pet groomers, to some extent, may help treat certain health conditions or abnormalities.
Long haired animals such as Shih Tzus, Poodles, and Persian cats are prone to developing mattes throughout their fur. These mattes can work their way to the skin’s surface, and may lead to worsened conditions for your animal. Mattes can cause skin infections known as hotspots if not treated at their beginning stages. Hotspots are usually defined as red, swollen, and moist areas, causing your pet discomfort if not properly cared for. Hotspots left untreated can spread throughout the body, further increasing pain and irritability. Getting your pet regularly groomed helps to prevent these hotspots from happening because groomers or vets will catch a matte forming before it reaches the skin. If a hotspot is found by a vet or groomer special topical ointment or powder is applied to help subside it. Regularly grooming and brushing your animal also helps distribute oils throughout your pet’s fur expelling dandruff and nourishing dry skin conditions.
Comfortable Grooming Experience and Treatment
Constipation can happen to any animal, at any age, with any coat type. Constipation can mean that your pet is unable to fully empty their anal gland. One noticeable symptom of this is your animal drags it’s posterior across the floor, also known as butt-scooting. Regularly taking your pet to be groomed, and explaining the symptom and it’s duration to your groomer or vet, will notify them to empty your animal’s anal glad. A vet or a professionally trained groomer will help relieve your pet of their compacted anal gland.
What to Expect From Your Groomer
Before grooming, your vet or groomer will most likely examine your animal before and after their bath. Before the bath determines what type of shampoos and conditioners will be used on your pet so their skin may gain the nutrients it requires. This will also determine the health of the inside of the animal’s ears, seeing if they need to be flooded for cleaning and infection protection purposes during their bath. They will also examine your pet after they have been bathed and dried, so they may note any abnormalities noticed during the bath to be careful of during the grooming and to notify you if it may require medical treatment.
Regularly grooming for a dog or cat also means that they will have regular nail trimmings, which is necessary to keep your pet’s kwik at bay. The kwik is the nerve inside an animal’s nail that will grow as the nail grows if not maintained. If a nail grows too long, the kwik will grow with it, and will cause pain to the animal if the owners ever decides to get their nails trimmed in the future.
Keep your pet looking and feeling their best by contacting your local groomer today. Your pet will thank you for it!
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Bad Breath in Dogs
“Dog breath” is so common that it’s probably seen in most cases as a dismissible quirk. Dogs don’t prioritize their health like we do, so it’s up to us to go the extra mile and provide them with necessary care. Brushing your dog’s teeth even just three times a week could extend their life by as much as five years.
Developing a New Hygiene Routine for your Pet
Brushing your teeth is a common practice. We know we have to brush our teeth in order to maintain our health, and because we’d like to prevent bad breath in most social situations. Bad breath is usually synonymous with bad health and hygiene, so why is bad breath tolerated in dogs?
If your dog is over thirty pounds, a regular toothbrush should work well to effectively clean teeth. For smaller dogs, buy a specialized finger brush. In both cases, you will need edible toothpaste as well; the regular toothpaste you use can be harmful to your pet’s digestion. It’s important to be calm and reassuring during the teeth cleaning process. If your dog appears anxious, and calming him or her down doesn’t work, save the cleaning for another day; you don’t want your pet to form a negative association with brushings.
The main target of teeth cleanings is removing plaque build-up, which typically requires working on the outside of the teeth. Don’t be too thorough, but do work slowly; the cleaning shouldn’t last more than two minutes. Afterward, consider giving your dog a treat, so that they look forward to the next cleaning!
It’s important to remember that while brushing your dog’s teeth can improve his or her life, the practice is not necessarily a cure-all. Sometimes bad breath can serve as a red flag of a more serious problem.
The Benefits of Regular Pet Teeth Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings can help avoid:
· Gingivitis
· Periodontitis
· Pyorrhea
· Caries
· Plaque
· Calculus (Tartar)
If your dog’s bad breath persists, you should consider a visit to your veterinarian for a check-up. It’s important to take any bothersome symptoms seriously when it comes to the health and well-being of your best friend.
Developing a New Hygiene Routine for your Pet
Brushing your teeth is a common practice. We know we have to brush our teeth in order to maintain our health, and because we’d like to prevent bad breath in most social situations. Bad breath is usually synonymous with bad health and hygiene, so why is bad breath tolerated in dogs?
If your dog is over thirty pounds, a regular toothbrush should work well to effectively clean teeth. For smaller dogs, buy a specialized finger brush. In both cases, you will need edible toothpaste as well; the regular toothpaste you use can be harmful to your pet’s digestion. It’s important to be calm and reassuring during the teeth cleaning process. If your dog appears anxious, and calming him or her down doesn’t work, save the cleaning for another day; you don’t want your pet to form a negative association with brushings.
The main target of teeth cleanings is removing plaque build-up, which typically requires working on the outside of the teeth. Don’t be too thorough, but do work slowly; the cleaning shouldn’t last more than two minutes. Afterward, consider giving your dog a treat, so that they look forward to the next cleaning!
It’s important to remember that while brushing your dog’s teeth can improve his or her life, the practice is not necessarily a cure-all. Sometimes bad breath can serve as a red flag of a more serious problem.
The Benefits of Regular Pet Teeth Cleanings
Regular dental cleanings can help avoid:
· Gingivitis
· Periodontitis
· Pyorrhea
· Caries
· Plaque
· Calculus (Tartar)
If your dog’s bad breath persists, you should consider a visit to your veterinarian for a check-up. It’s important to take any bothersome symptoms seriously when it comes to the health and well-being of your best friend.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Life Saving Diet Tips for Dogs
When you love your dog it may be tempting to feed them something from your plate, and while this is a safe practice most of the time there are certain foods that are toxic to canines. It’s also important to know what not to leave around the house, because dogs can be just as curious as cats. You shouldn’t let your dog consume any of the following foods:
· Chocolate. Chocolate isn’t just lethal to cats – it’s just as bad for dogs. Cacao, tea leaves, and the kola nut all contain Theobromine. If you want to give them something sweet, fruits besides grapes and raisins are a safe bet. Just make sure to cut apples up for them, because apple seeds are dangerous for their digestion as well.
· Onion and garlic. Onions, garlic, chives – these foods are toxic and can cause anemia in your pets. You should also be wary of letting your dog eat baby food; certain baby foods contain onion powder.
· Avocado. You’d think a nice dash of avocado would be a fancy addition to their breakfast bowl, but unfortunately avocados contain the toxin Persin. If you’re looking to add something green to their diet, celery is an excellent choice, as it’s a good source of vitamins which are good for the heart and can even fight cancer. Unsalted peanut butter is another great choice for a nice appetizer, and a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree can do wonders for your buddy’s upset stomach.
· Cherries. While the fleshy around the seed is safe to eat, the cyanide in the plant itself is dangerous for dogs. A cup of raspberries, which is high in fiber and provides vitamin C, would be a great substitute.
· Raw salmon/ trout. You’d think all fish would be fair game, but raw fish contains bacteria that can lead to fatality. Non-fatty, cooked meat is a welcome alternative however.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
If you believe your dog has eaten something harmful, you should take them to an emergency vet immediately, and they will be given prompt care. The sooner you respond to symptoms, the more assured the results will be. As always, research is your friend when it comes to the diet of dogs. If you’re ever unsure if something isn’t safe for your dog to eat, don’t hesitate to consult a verified source. It’s better to safe than sorry!
· Chocolate. Chocolate isn’t just lethal to cats – it’s just as bad for dogs. Cacao, tea leaves, and the kola nut all contain Theobromine. If you want to give them something sweet, fruits besides grapes and raisins are a safe bet. Just make sure to cut apples up for them, because apple seeds are dangerous for their digestion as well.
· Onion and garlic. Onions, garlic, chives – these foods are toxic and can cause anemia in your pets. You should also be wary of letting your dog eat baby food; certain baby foods contain onion powder.
· Avocado. You’d think a nice dash of avocado would be a fancy addition to their breakfast bowl, but unfortunately avocados contain the toxin Persin. If you’re looking to add something green to their diet, celery is an excellent choice, as it’s a good source of vitamins which are good for the heart and can even fight cancer. Unsalted peanut butter is another great choice for a nice appetizer, and a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree can do wonders for your buddy’s upset stomach.
· Cherries. While the fleshy around the seed is safe to eat, the cyanide in the plant itself is dangerous for dogs. A cup of raspberries, which is high in fiber and provides vitamin C, would be a great substitute.
· Raw salmon/ trout. You’d think all fish would be fair game, but raw fish contains bacteria that can lead to fatality. Non-fatty, cooked meat is a welcome alternative however.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
If you believe your dog has eaten something harmful, you should take them to an emergency vet immediately, and they will be given prompt care. The sooner you respond to symptoms, the more assured the results will be. As always, research is your friend when it comes to the diet of dogs. If you’re ever unsure if something isn’t safe for your dog to eat, don’t hesitate to consult a verified source. It’s better to safe than sorry!
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